The Cycle of Change....

Ok, so first of all you might want to read this if you don't already...this is one amazing blog written by one inspiring girl and OH how I would LOVE to go to a ww meeting in New York!!!!!!

http://msbitchcakes.blogspot.com/2009/03/weekly-meeting-topic-time-to-change.html

(I have no clue yet how to make the link you see above be, like, just one word like 'here' and then you click on it and it magically takes you to the blog I'm on about.....haha soooo not an IT savvy chick!)

So here's the thing (as they say in many of my very favourite American tv shows), this is a psychological concept that's dear to my heart. The Cycle of Change. It's commonly used with people who have a drug and/or alcohol addiction...

It goes a little something like this:-

Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action and Maintenance

Let's use 'Taking Regular Exercise' as the change you want to evoke. I am VERY GOOD INDEED at the first 2..

Pre-Contemplation : "I feel fat, heavy, wobbly, permanently full, utterly unhealthy and I am getting bingo wings. Something must be done! I need to get my arse off the sofa/out of the bar and Start Exercising on a Regular Basis...."

Contemplation : "Yes, I feel happy with my decision to Start Exercising Regularly. Think how good I'll feel when I know I have swum in the pool on my lunch hour instead of spending MORE money buying bigger sized clothes because nothing I own fits anymore. This is a good move for me. Change will come...."



(at this point I faff around for approximately one month whilst dutifully bringing my swim kit to work each day....and taking it home unsullied, unused and bone bloody dry!)

Theoretically though...the following stages should happen (and thankfully, this is the vibe I am on at the current moment in time...)


Preparation : "Ok, so I'll bring my swimming stuff to work with me and set aside the time to go swimming from 1 until 2pm, so that means I need to do x,y,z before then and make sure I have eaten at midday so I won't be starving, which means I need to bring in lunch and snacks rather than rely on the work cafeteria stodge..er..I mean...food....I'm all set and ready to rock, tomorrow is the day..."

Action : " Ooh midday already, time to eat......that way I won't thow up in the pool...ok five to one, time to leave.......god I HATE standing where other feet have been...memo to me, bring flip flops next time...oooh it's freeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing in this water......omigod I wish the old people would sod off, why can't they swim in a straight line? Don't they know I'm on a strict time schedule AND have calories to burn?.....oooh it's one thirty, time to get out.....30 lengths I did - impressive considering my lack of exercise...maybe I might come again! It's not as hard as I thought......."

Maintenance : " I am IN THE ZONE! This makes me feel GOOD (smug), I am determined to increase my times and lengths. 64 lengths is a whole mile! I wonder how long that would take me?! ooh how fab is swimming I am gonna come 3 times a week........"

BUT

All too often it goes like this......


Pre-Contemplation : "I feel fat, heavy, wobbly, permanently full, utterly unhealthy and I am getting bingo wings. Something must be done! I need to get my arse off the sofa/out of the bar and Start Exercising on a Regular Basis...."

Contemplation : "Yes, I feel happy with my decision to Start Exercising Regularly. Think how good I'll feel when I know I have swum in the pool on my lunch hour instead of spending MORE money buying bigger sized clothes because nothing I own fits anymore. This is a good move for me. Change will come...."

Action: "Ooh midday already..time to eat...oops I haven't brought anything with me, oh sod it I'll have the day off and swim tomorrow....I am STARVING....my only option is the work cafeteria....ah well, it's better than going into town for lunch, it's waaaaaaaaaay cheaper, even though I can't count my points because there's no NI on the labels, ah well, this once won't hurt....."

OR

Action: "OOh one pm already..oh bollocks...I was soooooooooooooo busy and important doing all my worky-work that I completely forgot the time" (never had any bloody intention of going)

OR

Action : "I genuinely HAVE been sooo busy/at another building/in a meeting/with a client that I haven't even thought about lunch, let alone taken my lunch hour....ooh I will go swimming at three till four, it'll be empty and octogenarian free at that time......"

I'm sure you get the picture.....and basically so it goes and on it continue until the next time I get in a paddy with myself and decide to Take Regular Exercise....

Why can't I just keep it on an even keel? Why can't I incorporate regular exercise into my lifestyle as something I enjoy, rather than seeing it as a punishment or an atonement for calories consumed......?? WHY WHY WHY??!!!!

This cycle of change works with every habit ( or non-habit!) - try it!!!

Here are a few of mine.....

• I will not buy that bottle of wine
• I will not eat 7 bags of crisps
• I will not consume an entire bag of Cadbury's giant chocolate buttons all on my own
• I will not get my dinner from the chippy simply because I am walking past it and cannto be arsed to cook

I can apply the cycle of change to all of these. I've never really thought of using my techniques on myself before (DUH!), so I think I'll give it a try.....

BigFatLove

BFP xxxxx